Why Are Food Hygiene Ratings Important?

Why Are Food Hygiene Ratings Important?

By Ricky Sharpe & Carl SteptoweMarch 31, 2023Advice, Food Safety, News, Story

What is the Food & Hygiene Rating System (FHRS)?

It is a scheme operated by local authorities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and is run in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.

As stated by the FSA, the purpose of the FHRS is…

“to allow consumers to make informed decisions about the places they eat out or shop for food and, through these decisions, encourage businesses to improve their hygiene standards. The overarching aim is to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and the associated costs to the economy”.

Under this scheme, food businesses are assessed on their hygiene standards during an inspection visit by an environmental health officer.

Here’s what Buckingham Futures very own principal consultant, Ricky Sharpe had to say…

After several years of assisting local authorities in the coordination of large-scale food hygiene inspection programs, it has shown me how vital these ratings are. I now think twice when eating out!

How are Businesses Rated?

An inspection must be carried out by an environmental health officer to assess that all food and safety procedures are being adhered to and to what degree. Once complete, a rating will be awarded on a scale of 0-5 (5 being the highest) based on an assessment of compliance in the following areas:

Food Hygiene: the way food is handled, prepared, cooked, reheated, cooled, and stored in a hygienic manner.
Structure and Cleanliness: the state of the building, including its layout, lighting, ventilation, and other amenities.
Proficient Management: the way the company handles and documents its processes to ensure that the food is safe.

The rating is displayed on a certificate in a prominent place in the business, and also on the Food Standards Agency website.

Why is the FHRS important?

The FHRS in the UK is essential for several reasons:

Protection of Public Health: The food hygiene rating system aims to protect public health by ensuring that food businesses maintain high standards of food hygiene and safety. This helps to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, which can have serious consequences for public health.
Transparency: The rating system provides clarity and allows customers to make informed decisions about where they eat. Customers can check the hygiene ratings of a food business before they visit, which can help them avoid businesses with poor hygiene standards.
Encouragement of good practices: The rating system encourages food businesses to maintain high standards of food hygiene and safety by making the ratings public. Businesses with lower ratings are motivated to improve their standards to increase their rating.
Compliance: The rating system encourages compliance with food hygiene regulations by making businesses aware of the standards they need to meet. The inspection process provides businesses with feedback on their practices, which can help them identify areas for improvement.
Reputation: A good food hygiene rating can enhance a business’s reputation and help to attract customers. Customers are more likely to choose a business with a higher rating, which can increase sales and improve the business’s bottom line.

Overall, the food hygiene rating system in the UK is an essential tool for protecting public health, promoting transparency and good practices, encouraging compliance, and enhancing business reputation.

Next Issue…

As Easter soon approaches we join Nick Cheung, Marketing Executive for our special event this year!

Ricky Sharpe ~ Principal Consultant, Lead of the Commercial Division

Carl Steptowe ~ Digital Marketing Executive

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